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POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference Thursday in Polk County.
He was joined by Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue at the FDOT District 1 headquarters in Bartow.
DeSantis discussed plans for vertiports, which could transport people short distances by air. He said the technology is new and in its early stages, but Florida aims to build two vertiports at an FDOT testing facility.
DeSantis described the concept as an “air version of an Uber,” with each vertiport accommodating four to five people.
“This will be the nation’s first advanced air mobility test track, and it will have dedicated airspace driving innovative research and development for this new technology,” DeSantis said.
Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue said he and Gov. Ron DeSantis saw prototypes of vertiports at the Paris Air Show. The project is on schedule to receive federal approval sometime in 2026.
Perdue said the service will be offered by private owners and operators.
“It is essentially the age of flying cars. How can we support the private sector being successful, speed to market? You cut through the red tape; you give them the ability to operate and operate quickly and become profitable. And this will [be a] new opportunity for Florida residents,” Perdue said.
Watch FDOT’s video explaining the technology here.
DeSantis also spoke about efforts to relieve traffic congestion on Interstate 4 in Central Florida.
“I am pleased to be able to announce additional I-4 expansion we’re going to be able to incorporate with the Moving Florida Forward Initiative. This is 17 miles of new lanes in Hillsborough County from I-75 to County Line Road. That is going to make a big difference for folks traveling in that Hillsborough County section of Interstate 4,” DeSantis said.
Additionally, DeSantis announced a new truck parking facility in Polk County with 100 new parking spots along the I-4 corridor.
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